Outdoor Stores for Camping Gear in Hokkaido

Posted on Aug 1, 2018
5
Posted on Aug 1, 2018
0 5
Here's some great stores for stocking up on gear essentials for cycle touring in Hokkaido. If you've just arrived in Hokkaido on an airplane, then you're in luck. There's a large outlet mall next to the airport that has some good outdoor stores - they'll set you up with camping gas, essentials you forgot to bring, and any extra clothes you need to pick up. If you live in Sapporo, then you're spoiled for choice. Google Maps is good at finding outdoor stores (just do a search for "outdoor store" in English), but here's some places we frequent relatively regularly.

Last updated Jul 9, 2021

NOTE: If you’re looking for bike-specific parts and service, check out our list of good bike shops catering to cycle tourists in Sapporo (here) and Chitose (here).

Sapporo

Shugakuso Outdoor Store

Shugakuso (秀岳荘) has two stores in Sapporo – one next to Hokkaido University 10 minutes walk north of Sapporo Station and one in Shiroishi Ward in southern Sapporo. They also have a store in Asahikawa City. The Shiroishi store has a well-stocked cyclery on the basement floor, so makes for a good place to drop in if you’re in need of both outdoor gear and bike stuff.

Paddle Club

Also a bit of an institution within the outdoor community in Sapporo is Paddle Club (パドルクラブ). While the name makes it sound like they deal in watersports, it is certainly not their mainstay. Expect a good range of clothing and an OK range of accessories, and a whole lot of awesome for ski touring and winter exploring gear. They have two locations; one in Atsubetsu Ward, and one on the second floor of the TRIAL Super Center in Teine.

Chitose City

North Ride Plus RERA Outlet Store – CLOSED as of Sept 2019

North Ride Plus (ノースライドプラス) has a store at the Rera Outlet Mall, about 3.5km from the domestic terminal at New Chitose Aiport (walking/cycling route here). They’re the only outdoor-related store in Rera with a passable selection of camping gear, including fuel for stoves.  

All over Hokkaido

“Home Centers”

Home centers (ホームセンター) are what people in Japan call DIY or hardware stores. They are a great place to browse for cheaper brands of camping gas, white fuel, warm clothing, and spare nuts and bolts. In Hokkaido there’s a few chains of these large home improvement and hardware stores such as Viva Home, Homac, and Nicot (in smaller towns).

Pharmacies

Pharmacies (薬局) are the only places in Hokkaido that reliably stock fuel alcohol for pop can stoves and trangia stoves etc, even in small towns. Generally it will be a good mix of ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl, which burns very cleanly. Expect to pay between 250yen and 350yen for 500ml. Just search for ‘pharmacy’ in English on Google or in Open Street Maps.

Know of any good stores?

Have you been cycle touring in Hokkaido and found a good store for stocking up on camping essentials such as fuel and other gear? Got any tips to share? Please let us know in the comments below.

Shugakuso Outdoor Store in Sapporo (Hokkaido, Japan)

Comments | Queries | Discussion

5 thoughts on “Outdoor Stores for Camping Gear in Hokkaido”

  1. Just visited Rera and unfortunately North ride plus is closed. You could find some outdoor wear shops like Columbia etc but nothing camping wise, only one glamping store called Logos. Many shops seem to be closing down here.

    For Gas, Aeon or Montbell stores are pretty good too.

      1. Super, thanks Rob!

        I eventually found some at a sportsgoods store in Chitose, across the Homac, called ‘Alpen’ https://goo.gl/maps/H2iqDsvjnyU556uY6
        They have a large range of butane and aerosol gas canisters, gas stoves and other camping gear (plus sports gear).

        For just outdoor stuff, I can also recommend the “2nd street” chain found in Sapporo and Chitose and sometimes also ‘Daiso’ (one dollar shops).

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Outdoor Stores for Camping Gear in Hokkaido Difficulty Rating

Category

Grade

Points

Strenuousness

Vertical Gain

D

25

Time ascending

D

0

Technicality

Altitude

D

0

Hazards

D

Navigation

D

Totals

25/100

GRADES range from A (very difficult) to D (easy). Hazards include exposure to avalanche and fall risk. More details here. Rating rubric adapted from Hokkaido Yukiyama Guidebook 北海道雪山ガイド.